Multi-electrode active stylus tip

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a device includes a stylus tip capable of communicating wirelessly with another device through a touch sensor of the other device. The stylus tip includes one or more surface areas, one or more substrates disposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in the one or more substrates.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/553,114, filed 28 Oct. 2011, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to touch-position sensors.

BACKGROUND

A touch sensor may detect the presence and location of a touch or theproximity of an object (such as a user's finger or a stylus) within atouch-sensitive area of the touch sensor overlaid on a display screen,for example. In a touch-sensitive-display application, the touch sensormay enable a user to interact directly with what is displayed on thescreen, rather than indirectly with a mouse or touch pad. A touch sensormay be attached to or provided as part of a desktop computer, laptopcomputer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone,satellite navigation device, portable media player, portable gameconsole, kiosk computer, point-of-sale device, or other suitable device.A control panel on a household or other appliance may include a touchsensor.

There are a number of different types of touch sensors, such as, forexample, resistive touch screens, surface acoustic wave touch screens,and capacitive touch screens. Herein, reference to a touch sensor mayencompass a touch screen, and vice versa, where appropriate. When anobject touches or comes within proximity of the surface of thecapacitive touch screen, a change in capacitance may occur within thetouch screen at the location of the touch or proximity. A touch-sensorcontroller may process the change in capacitance to determine itsposition on the touch screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example touch sensor with an example touch-sensorcontroller.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example active stylus exterior.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example active stylus interior.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example active stylus with touch sensor device.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 5B illustrates a head-on view of an example multi-electrodeactive-stylus tip.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 6B illustrates a head-on view of an example multi-electrodeactive-stylus tip.

FIG. 6C illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 6D illustrates a head-on view of an example multi-electrodeactive-stylus tip.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 7B illustrates a head-on view of an example multi-electrodeactive-stylus tip.

FIG. 7C illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 7D illustrates a head-on view of an example multi-electrodeactive-stylus tip.

FIG. 8A illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

FIG. 8B illustrates an example multi-electrode active stylus tip.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example touch sensor 10 with an exampletouch-sensor controller 12. Touch sensor 10 and touch-sensor controller12 may detect the presence and location of a touch or the proximity ofan object within a touch-sensitive area of touch sensor 10. Herein,reference to a touch sensor may encompass both the touch sensor and itstouch-sensor controller, where appropriate. Similarly, reference to atouch-sensor controller may encompass both the touch-sensor controllerand its touch sensor, where appropriate. Touch sensor 10 may include oneor more touch-sensitive areas, where appropriate. Touch sensor 10 mayinclude an array of drive and sense electrodes (or an array ofelectrodes of a single type) disposed on one or more substrates, whichmay be made of a dielectric material. Herein, reference to a touchsensor may encompass both the electrodes of the touch sensor and thesubstrate(s) that they are disposed on, where appropriate.Alternatively, where appropriate, reference to a touch sensor mayencompass the electrodes of the touch sensor, but not the substrate(s)that they are disposed on.

An electrode (whether a ground electrode, guard electrode, driveelectrode, or sense electrode) may be an area of conductive materialforming a shape, such as for example a disc, square, rectangle, thinline, other suitable shape, or suitable combination of these. One ormore cuts in one or more layers of conductive material may (at least inpart) create the shape of an electrode, and the area of the shape may(at least in part) be bounded by those cuts. In particular embodiments,the conductive material of an electrode may occupy approximately 100% ofthe area of its shape. As an example and not by way of limitation, anelectrode may be made of indium tin oxide (ITO) and the ITO of theelectrode may occupy approximately 100% of the area of its shape(sometimes referred to as a 100% fill), where appropriate. In particularembodiments, the conductive material of an electrode may occupysubstantially less than 100% of the area of its shape. As an example andnot by way of limitation, an electrode may be made of fine lines ofmetal or other conductive material (FLM), such as for example copper,silver, or a copper- or silver-based material, and the fine lines ofconductive material may occupy approximately 5% of the area of its shapein a hatched, mesh, or other suitable pattern. Herein, reference to FLMencompasses such material, where appropriate. Although this disclosuredescribes or illustrates particular electrodes made of particularconductive material forming particular shapes with particular fillpercentages having particular patterns, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable electrodes made of any suitable conductive material forming anysuitable shapes with any suitable fill percentages having any suitablepatterns.

Where appropriate, the shapes of the electrodes (or other elements) of atouch sensor may constitute in whole or in part one or moremacro-features of the touch sensor. One or more characteristics of theimplementation of those shapes (such as, for example, the conductivematerials, fills, or patterns within the shapes) may constitute in wholeor in part one or more micro-features of the touch sensor. One or moremacro-features of a touch sensor may determine one or morecharacteristics of its functionality, and one or more micro-features ofthe touch sensor may determine one or more optical features of the touchsensor, such as transmittance, refraction, or reflection.

A mechanical stack may contain the substrate (or multiple substrates)and the conductive material forming the drive or sense electrodes oftouch sensor 10. As an example and not by way of limitation, themechanical stack may include a first layer of optically clear adhesive(OCA) beneath a cover panel. The cover panel may be clear and made of aresilient material suitable for repeated touching, such as for exampleglass, polycarbonate, or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable cover panel made of any suitablematerial. The first layer of OCA may be disposed between the cover paneland the substrate with the conductive material forming the drive orsense electrodes. The mechanical stack may also include a second layerof OCA and a dielectric layer (which may be made of PET or anothersuitable material, similar to the substrate with the conductive materialforming the drive or sense electrodes). As an alternative, whereappropriate, a thin coating of a dielectric material may be appliedinstead of the second layer of OCA and the dielectric layer. The secondlayer of OCA may be disposed between the substrate with the conductivematerial making up the drive or sense electrodes and the dielectriclayer, and the dielectric layer may be disposed between the second layerof OCA and an air gap to a display of a device including touch sensor 10and touch-sensor controller 12. As an example only and not by way oflimitation, the cover panel may have a thickness of approximately 1 mm;the first layer of OCA may have a thickness of approximately 0.05 mm;the substrate with the conductive material forming the drive or senseelectrodes may have a thickness of approximately 0.05 mm; the secondlayer of OCA may have a thickness of approximately 0.05 mm; and thedielectric layer may have a thickness of approximately 0.05 mm. Althoughthis disclosure describes a particular mechanical stack with aparticular number of particular layers made of particular materials andhaving particular thicknesses, this disclosure contemplates any suitablemechanical stack with any suitable number of any suitable layers made ofany suitable materials and having any suitable thicknesses. As anexample and not by way of limitation, in particular embodiments, a layerof adhesive or dielectric may replace the dielectric layer, second layerof OCA, and air gap described above, with there being no air gap to thedisplay.

One or more portions of the substrate of touch sensor 10 may be made ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) or another suitable material. Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable substrate with any suitableportions made of any suitable material. In particular embodiments, thedrive or sense electrodes in touch sensor 10 may be made of ITO in wholeor in part. In particular embodiments, the drive or sense electrodes intouch sensor 10 may be made of fine lines of metal or other conductivematerial. As an example and not by way of limitation, one or moreportions of the conductive material may be copper or copper-based andhave a thickness of approximately 5 μm or less and a width ofapproximately 10 μm or less. As another example, one or more portions ofthe conductive material may be silver or silver-based and similarly havea thickness of approximately 5 μm or less and a width of approximately10 μm or less. This disclosure contemplates any suitable electrodes madeof any suitable material.

Touch sensor 10 may implement a capacitive form of touch sensing. In amutual-capacitance implementation, touch sensor 10 may include an arrayof drive and sense electrodes forming an array of capacitive nodes. Adrive electrode and a sense electrode may form a capacitive node. Thedrive and sense electrodes forming the capacitive node may come neareach other, but not make electrical contact with each other. Instead,the drive and sense electrodes may be capacitively coupled to each otheracross a space between them. A pulsed or alternating voltage applied tothe drive electrode (by touch-sensor controller 12) may induce a chargeon the sense electrode, and the amount of charge induced may besusceptible to external influence (such as a touch or the proximity ofan object). When an object touches or comes within proximity of thecapacitive node, a change in capacitance may occur at the capacitivenode and touch-sensor controller 12 may measure the change incapacitance. By measuring changes in capacitance throughout the array,touch-sensor controller 12 may determine the position of the touch orproximity within the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10.

In a self-capacitance implementation, touch sensor 10 may include anarray of electrodes of a single type that may each form a capacitivenode. When an object touches or comes within proximity of the capacitivenode, a change in self-capacitance may occur at the capacitive node andcontroller 12 may measure the change in capacitance, for example, as achange in the amount of charge needed to raise the voltage at thecapacitive node by a pre-determined amount. As with a mutual-capacitanceimplementation, by measuring changes in capacitance throughout thearray, controller 12 may determine the position of the touch orproximity within the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10. Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable form of capacitive touch sensing,where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, one or more drive electrodes may togetherform a drive line running horizontally or vertically or in any suitableorientation. Similarly, one or more sense electrodes may together form asense line running horizontally or vertically or in any suitableorientation. In particular embodiments, drive lines may runsubstantially perpendicular to sense lines. Herein, reference to a driveline may encompass one or more drive electrodes making up the driveline, and vice versa, where appropriate. Similarly, reference to a senseline may encompass one or more sense electrodes making up the senseline, and vice versa, where appropriate.

Touch sensor 10 may have drive and sense electrodes disposed in apattern on one side of a single substrate. In such a configuration, apair of drive and sense electrodes capacitively coupled to each otheracross a space between them may form a capacitive node. For aself-capacitance implementation, electrodes of only a single type may bedisposed in a pattern on a single substrate. In addition or as analternative to having drive and sense electrodes disposed in a patternon one side of a single substrate, touch sensor 10 may have driveelectrodes disposed in a pattern on one side of a substrate and senseelectrodes disposed in a pattern on another side of the substrate.Moreover, touch sensor 10 may have drive electrodes disposed in apattern on one side of one substrate and sense electrodes disposed in apattern on one side of another substrate. In such configurations, anintersection of a drive electrode and a sense electrode may form acapacitive node. Such an intersection may be a location where the driveelectrode and the sense electrode “cross” or come nearest each other intheir respective planes. The drive and sense electrodes do not makeelectrical contact with each other—instead they are capacitively coupledto each other across a dielectric at the intersection. Although thisdisclosure describes particular configurations of particular electrodesforming particular nodes, this disclosure contemplates any suitableconfiguration of any suitable electrodes forming any suitable nodes.Moreover, this disclosure contemplates any suitable electrodes disposedon any suitable number of any suitable substrates in any suitablepatterns.

As described above, a change in capacitance at a capacitive node oftouch sensor 10 may indicate a touch or proximity input at the positionof the capacitive node. Touch-sensor controller 12 may detect andprocess the change in capacitance to determine the presence and locationof the touch or proximity input. Touch-sensor controller 12 may thencommunicate information about the touch or proximity input to one ormore other components (such one or more central processing units (CPUs))of a device that includes touch sensor 10 and touch-sensor controller12, which may respond to the touch or proximity input by initiating afunction of the device (or an application running on the device).Although this disclosure describes a particular touch-sensor controllerhaving particular functionality with respect to a particular device anda particular touch sensor, this disclosure contemplates any suitabletouch-sensor controller having any suitable functionality with respectto any suitable device and any suitable touch sensor.

Touch-sensor controller 12 may be one or more integrated circuits (ICs),such as for example general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers,programmable logic devices (PLDs) or programmable logic arrays (PLAs),application-specific ICs (ASICs). In particular embodiments,touch-sensor controller 12 comprises analog circuitry, digital logic,and digital non-volatile memory. In particular embodiments, touch-sensorcontroller 12 is disposed on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded tothe substrate of touch sensor 10, as described below. The FPC may beactive or passive, where appropriate. In particular embodiments multipletouch-sensor controllers 12 are disposed on the FPC. Touch-sensorcontroller 12 may include a processor unit, a drive unit, a sense unit,and a storage unit. The drive unit may supply drive signals to the driveelectrodes of touch sensor 10. The sense unit may sense charge at thecapacitive nodes of touch sensor 10 and provide measurement signals tothe processor unit representing capacitances at the capacitive nodes.The processor unit may control the supply of drive signals to the driveelectrodes by the drive unit and process measurement signals from thesense unit to detect and process the presence and location of a touch orproximity input within the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10.The processor unit may also track changes in the position of a touch orproximity input within the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10.The storage unit may store programming for execution by the processorunit, including programming for controlling the drive unit to supplydrive signals to the drive electrodes, programming for processingmeasurement signals from the sense unit, and other suitable programming,where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes a particulartouch-sensor controller having a particular implementation withparticular components, this disclosure contemplates any suitabletouch-sensor controller having any suitable implementation with anysuitable components.

Tracks 14 of conductive material disposed on the substrate of touchsensor 10 may couple the drive or sense electrodes of touch sensor 10 toconnection pads 16, also disposed on the substrate of touch sensor 10.As described below, connection pads 16 facilitate coupling of tracks 14to touch-sensor controller 12. Tracks 14 may extend into or around (e.g.at the edges of) the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10.Particular tracks 14 may provide drive connections for couplingtouch-sensor controller 12 to drive electrodes of touch sensor 10,through which the drive unit of touch-sensor controller 12 may supplydrive signals to the drive electrodes. Other tracks 14 may provide senseconnections for coupling touch-sensor controller 12 to sense electrodesof touch sensor 10, through which the sense unit of touch-sensorcontroller 12 may sense charge at the capacitive nodes of touch sensor10. Tracks 14 may be made of fine lines of metal or other conductivematerial. As an example and not by way of limitation, the conductivematerial of tracks 14 may be copper or copper-based and have a width ofapproximately 100 μm or less. As another example, the conductivematerial of tracks 14 may be silver or silver-based and have a width ofapproximately 100 μm or less. In particular embodiments, tracks 14 maybe made of ITO in whole or in part in addition or as an alternative tofine lines of metal or other conductive material. Although thisdisclosure describes particular tracks made of particular materials withparticular widths, this disclosure contemplates any suitable tracks madeof any suitable materials with any suitable widths. In addition totracks 14, touch sensor 10 may include one or more ground linesterminating at a ground connector (which may be a connection pad 16) atan edge of the substrate of touch sensor 10 (similar to tracks 14).

Connection pads 16 may be located along one or more edges of thesubstrate, outside the touch-sensitive area(s) of touch sensor 10. Asdescribed above, touch-sensor controller 12 may be on an FPC. Connectionpads 16 may be made of the same material as tracks 14 and may be bondedto the FPC using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). Connection 18 mayinclude conductive lines on the FPC coupling touch-sensor controller 12to connection pads 16, in turn coupling touch-sensor controller 12 totracks 14 and to the drive or sense electrodes of touch sensor 10. Inanother embodiment, connection pads 16 may be connected to anelectro-mechanical connector (such as a zero insertion forcewire-to-board connector); in this embodiment, connection 18 may not needto include an FPC. This disclosure contemplates any suitable connection18 between touch-sensor controller 12 and touch sensor 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example exterior of an example active stylus 20.Active stylus 20 may include one or more components, such as buttons 30or sliders 32 and 34 integrated with an outer body 22. These externalcomponents may provide for interaction between active stylus 20 and auser or between a device and a user. As an example and not by way oflimitation, interactions may include communication between active stylus20 and a device, enabling or altering functionality of active stylus 20or a device, or providing feedback to or accepting input from one ormore users. The device may by any suitable device, such as, for exampleand without limitation, a desktop computer, laptop computer, tabletcomputer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, satellitenavigation device, portable media player, portable game console, kioskcomputer, point-of-sale device, or other suitable device. Although thisdisclosure provides specific examples of particular componentsconfigured to provide particular interactions, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable component configured to provide any suitableinteraction. Active stylus 20 may have any suitable dimensions withouter body 22 made of any suitable material or combination of materials,such as, for example and without limitation, plastic or metal. Inparticular embodiments, exterior components (e.g. 30 or 32) of activestylus 20 may interact with internal components or programming of activestylus 20 or may initiate one or more interactions with one or moredevices or other active styluses 20.

As described above, actuating one or more particular components mayinitiate an interaction between active stylus 20 and a user or betweenthe device and the user. Components of active stylus 20 may include oneor more buttons 30 or one or more sliders 32 and 34. As an example andnot by way of limitation, buttons 30 or sliders 32 and 34 may bemechanical or capacitive and may function as a roller, trackball, orwheel. As another example, one or more sliders 32 or 34 may function asa vertical slider 34 aligned along a longitudinal axis, while one ormore wheel sliders 32 may be aligned along the circumference of activestylus 20. In particular embodiments, capacitive sliders 32 and 34 orbuttons 30 may be implemented using one or more touch-sensitive areas.Touch-sensitive areas may have any suitable shape, dimensions, location,or be made from any suitable material. As an example and not by way oflimitation, sliders 32 and 34 or buttons 30 may be implemented usingareas of flexible mesh formed using lines of conductive material. Asanother example, sliders 32 and 34 or buttons 30 may be implementedusing a FPC.

Active stylus 20 may have one or more components configured to providefeedback to or accepting feedback from a user, such as, for example andwithout limitation, tactile, visual, or audio feedback. Active stylus 20may include one or more ridges or grooves 24 on its outer body 22.Ridges or grooves 24 may have any suitable dimensions, have any suitablespacing between ridges or grooves, or be located at any suitable area onouter body 22 of active stylus 20. As an example and not by way oflimitation, ridges 24 may enhance a user's grip on outer body 22 ofactive stylus 20 or provide tactile feedback to or accept tactile inputfrom a user. Active stylus 20 may include one or more audio components38 capable of transmitting and receiving audio signals. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, audio component 38 may contain amicrophone capable of recording or transmitting one or more users'voices. As another example, audio component 38 may provide an auditoryindication of a power status of active stylus 20. Active stylus 20 mayinclude one or more visual feedback components 36, such as alight-emitting diode (LED) indicator. As an example and not by way oflimitation, visual feedback component 36 may indicate a power status ofactive stylus 20 to the user.

One or more modified surface areas 40 may form one or more components onouter body 22 of active stylus 20. Properties of modified surface areas40 may be different than properties of the remaining surface of outerbody 22. As an example and not by way of limitation, modified surfacearea 40 may be modified to have a different texture, temperature, orelectromagnetic characteristic relative to the surface properties of theremainder of outer body 22. Modified surface area 40 may be capable ofdynamically altering its properties, for example by using hapticinterfaces or rendering techniques. A user may interact with modifiedsurface area 40 to provide any suitable functionally. For example andnot by way of limitation, dragging a finger across modified surface area40 may initiate an interaction, such as data transfer, between activestylus 20 and a device.

One or more components of active stylus 20 may be configured tocommunicate data between active stylus 20 and the device. For example,active stylus 20 may include one or more tips 26 or nibs. Tip 26 mayinclude one or more electrodes configured to communicate data betweenactive stylus 20 and one or more devices or other active styluses. Tip26 may be made of any suitable material, such as a conductive material,and have any suitable dimensions, such as, for example, a diameter of 1mm or less at its terminal end. Active stylus 20 may include one or moreports 28 located at any suitable location on outer body 22 of activestylus 20. Port 28 may be configured to transfer signals or informationbetween active stylus 20 and one or more devices or power sources. Port28 may transfer signals or information by any suitable technology, suchas, for example, by universal serial bus (USB) or Ethernet connections.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particularconfiguration of particular components with particular locations,dimensions, composition and functionality, this disclosure contemplatesany suitable configuration of suitable components with any suitablelocations, dimensions, composition, and functionality with respect toactive stylus 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example internal components of example activestylus 20. Active stylus 20 may include one or more internal components,such as a controller 50, sensors 42, memory 44, or power source 48. Inparticular embodiments, one or more internal components may beconfigured to provide for interaction between active stylus 20 and auser or between a device and a user. In other particular embodiments,one or more internal components, in conjunction with one or moreexternal components described above, may be configured to provideinteraction between active stylus 20 and a user or between a device anda user. As an example and not by way of limitation, interactions mayinclude communication between active stylus 20 and a device, enabling oraltering functionality of active stylus 20 or a device, or providingfeedback to or accepting input from one or more users.

Controller 50 may be a microcontroller or any other type of processorsuitable for controlling the operation of active stylus 20. Controller50 may be one or more ICs—such as, for example, general-purposemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, PLDs, PLAs, or ASICs. Controller 50may include a processor unit, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a storageunit. The drive unit may supply signals to electrodes of tip 26 throughcenter shaft 41. The drive unit may also supply signals to control ordrive sensors 42 or one or more external components of active stylus 20.The sense unit may sense signals received by electrodes of tip 26through center shaft 41 and provide measurement signals to the processorunit representing input from a device. The sense unit may also sensesignals generated by sensors 42 or one or more external components andprovide measurement signals to the processor unit representing inputfrom a user. The processor unit may control the supply of signals to theelectrodes of tip 26 and process measurement signals from the sense unitto detect and process input from the device. The processor unit may alsoprocess measurement signals from sensors 42 or one or more externalcomponents. The storage unit may store programming for execution by theprocessor unit, including programming for controlling the drive unit tosupply signals to the electrodes of tip 26, programming for processingmeasurement signals from the sense unit corresponding to input from thedevice, programming for processing measurement signals from sensors 42or external components to initiate a pre-determined function or gestureto be performed by active stylus 20 or the device, and other suitableprogramming, where appropriate. As an example and not by way oflimitation, programming executed by controller 50 may electronicallyfilter signals received from the sense unit. Although this disclosuredescribes a particular controller 50 having a particular implementationwith particular components, this disclosure contemplates any suitablecontroller having any suitable implementation with any suitablecomponents.

In particular embodiments, active stylus 20 may include one or moresensors 42, such as touch sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, contactsensors, or any other type of sensor that detect or measure data aboutthe environment in which active stylus 20 operates. Sensors 42 maydetect and measure one or more characteristic of active stylus 20, suchas acceleration or movement, orientation, contact, pressure on outerbody 22, force on tip 26, vibration, or any other suitablecharacteristic of active stylus 20. As an example and not by way oflimitation, sensors 42 may be implemented mechanically, electronically,or capacitively. As described above, data detected or measured bysensors 42 communicated to controller 50 may initiate a pre-determinedfunction or gesture to be performed by active stylus 20 or the device.In particular embodiments, data detected or received by sensors 42 maybe stored in memory 44. Memory 44 may be any form of memory suitable forstoring data in active stylus 20. In other particular embodiments,controller 50 may access data stored in memory 44. As an example and notby way of limitation, memory 44 may store programming for execution bythe processor unit of controller 50. As another example, data measuredby sensors 42 may be processed by controller 50 and stored in memory 44.

Power source 48 may be any type of stored-energy source, includingelectrical or chemical-energy sources, suitable for powering theoperation of active stylus 20. In particular embodiments, power source48 may be charged by energy from a user or device. As an example and notby way of limitation, power source 48 may be a rechargeable battery thatmay be charged by motion induced on active stylus 20. In otherparticular embodiments, power source 48 of active stylus 20 may providepower to or receive power from the device. As an example and not by wayof limitation, power may be inductively transferred between power source48 and a power source of the device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example active stylus 20 with an example device52. Device 52 may have a display (not shown) and a touch sensor with atouch-sensitive area 54. Device 52 display may be a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a LED display, a LED-backlight LCD, or other suitabledisplay and may be visible though a cover panel and substrate (and thedrive and sense electrodes of the touch sensor disposed on it) of device52. Although this disclosure describes a particular device display andparticular display types, this disclosure contemplates any suitabledevice display and any suitable display types.

Device 52 electronics may provide the functionality of device 52. Asexample and not by way of limitation, device 52 electronics may includecircuitry or other electronics for wireless communication to or fromdevice 52, execute programming on device 52, generating graphical orother user interfaces (UIs) for device 52 display to display to a user,managing power to device 52 from a battery or other power source, takingstill pictures, recording video, other suitable functionality, or anysuitable combination of these. Although this disclosure describesparticular device electronics providing particular functionality of aparticular device, this disclosure contemplates any suitable deviceelectronics providing any suitable functionality of any suitable device.

In particular embodiments, active stylus 20 and device 52 may besynchronized prior to communication of data between active stylus 20 anddevice 52. As an example and not by way of limitation, active stylus 20may be synchronized to device through a pre-determined bit sequencetransmitted by the touch sensor of device 52. As another example, activestylus 20 may be synchronized to device by processing the drive signaltransmitted by drive electrodes of the touch sensor of device 52. Activestylus 20 may interact or communicate with device 52 when active stylus20 is brought in contact with or in proximity to touch-sensitive area 54of the touch sensor of device 52. In particular embodiments, interactionbetween active stylus 20 and device 52 may be capacitive or inductive.As an example and not by way of limitation, when active stylus 20 isbrought in contact with or in the proximity of touch-sensitive area 54of device 52, signals generated by active stylus 20 may influencecapacitive nodes of touch-sensitive area of device 52 or vice versa. Asanother example, a power source of active stylus 20 may be inductivelycharged through the touch sensor of device 52, or vice versa. Althoughthis disclosure describes particular interactions and communicationsbetween active stylus 20 and device 52, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable interactions and communications through any suitable means,such as mechanical forces, current, voltage, or electromagnetic fields.

In particular embodiments, measurement signal from the sensors of activestylus 20 may initiate, provide for, or terminate interactions betweenactive stylus 20 and one or more devices 52 or one or more users, asdescribed above. Interaction between active stylus 20 and device 52 mayoccur when active stylus 20 is contacting or in proximity to device 52.As an example and not by way of limitation, a user may perform a gestureor sequence of gestures, such as shaking or inverting active stylus 20,whilst active stylus 20 is hovering above touch-sensitive area 54 ofdevice 52. Active stylus may interact with device 52 based on thegesture performed with active stylus 20 to initiate a pre-determinedfunction, such as authenticating a user associated with active stylus 20or device 52. Although this disclosure describes particular movementsproviding particular types of interactions between active stylus 20 anddevice 52, this disclosure contemplates any suitable movementinfluencing any suitable interaction in any suitable way.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example active stylus tip 26. Active stylus tip26 may include one or more electrodes 60, 62, and 64 configured tocommunicate data between active stylus 20 and one or more devices orother active styluses. Active stylus tip 26 may include furthercomponents or functionality not illustrated in FIG. 5, 6, 7, or 8. As anexample, active stylus tip 26 may include one or more mechanicalswitches operable to physically switch the connectivity of one or moreelectrodes in the tip. As another example, active stylus tip 26 mayinclude logic, including, for example, a multiplexer. As yet anotherexample, active stylus tip may include electric or electronic circuitelements, including, for example, an operational amplifier.

As an example and without limitation, an electrode in active stylus tip26 may be a ground electrode, a guard electrode, a drive electrode, or asense electrode. In particular embodiments, the electrodes in activestylus tip 26 may be formed from conductive material or resistivematerial. The electrodes in active stylus tip 26 may each be an area ofconductive material forming a shape, such as for example a disc, square,rectangle, other suitable shapes, or suitable combination of these. Oneor more cuts in one or more layers of conductive material may (at leastin part) create the shape of an electrode, and the area of the shape may(at least in part) be bounded by those cuts. In particular embodiments,the conductive material of an electrode may occupy approximately 100% ofthe area of its shape. As an example and not by way of limitation, anelectrode may be made of indium tin oxide (ITO) and the ITO of theelectrode may occupy approximately 100% of the area of its shape, whereappropriate. In particular embodiments, the conductive material of anelectrode may occupy substantially less than 100% of the area of itsshape. As an example and not by way of limitation, an electrode may bemade of fine lines of metal or other conductive material (such as forexample copper, silver, or a copper- or silver-based material) and thefine lines of conductive material may occupy substantially less than100% of the area of its shape in a hatched, mesh, or other suitablepatterns. The electrodes in active stylus tip 26 may, in particularembodiments, be disposed on a surface of active stylus tip 26, or in aregion in active stylus tip 26. In particular embodiments, theelectrodes may be disposed on one or more substrates in active stylustip 26. As an example, active stylus tip 26 may contain multiplesubstrates, and each substrate may have one electrode disposed on it. Asanother example, active stylus tip 26 may contain multiple substrates,and each substrate may have multiple electrodes disposed on it. Thesubstrates may be arranged in any suitable fashion in active stylus tip26, including having the substrates each be a layer (resting on othersubstrates or layers) on the surface of active stylus 26. As anotherexample, an electrode may be disposed in (e.g., embedded within) asubstrate. Although this disclosure describes or illustrates particularelectrodes made of particular conductive material forming particularshapes with particular fills having particular patterns, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable electrodes made of any suitable conductivematerial forming any suitable shapes with any suitable fills having anysuitable patterns. Where appropriate, the shapes of the electrodes (orother elements) of the active stylus tip 26 may constitute in whole orin part one or more macro-features of the active stylus tip 26. One ormore characteristics of the implementation of those shapes (such as, forexample, the conductive materials, fills, or patterns within the shapes)may constitute in whole or in part one or more micro-features of theactive stylus tip 26. One or more macro-features of an active stylus tip26 may determine one or more characteristics of its functionality, andone or more micro-features of the active stylus tip 26 may determine oneor more optical features of the active stylus tip 26, such astransmittance, refraction, or reflection.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A, active stylus tip 26contains one or more electrodes, including electrodes 60, 62, and 64.The electrodes are disposed on a surface of active stylus tip 26 and arestacked upon one another on the surface, such that the area comprisingelectrode 62 sits adjacent to and above electrode 60, and the areacomprising electrode 64 sits adjacent to and above electrode 62 on theactive stylus tip 26. The electrodes in this embodiment each comprise ahorizontal segment of the surface active stylus tip 26. FIG. 5Billustrates an alternate view of the example embodiment of active stylustip 26 illustrated in FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, active stylus tip 26 isviewed head-on, such that each horizontal segment of the tip in FIG. 5Acorresponds to a circular or ring-like region in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A illustrates another example embodiment of the electrodes inactive stylus tip 26. In this example, active stylus tip 26 contains oneor more electrodes, including electrodes 160, 162, and 164. Inparticular embodiments, including the one illustrated in FIG. 6A, one ormore of the electrodes in active stylus tip 26 extend along a portion ofthe length of active stylus tip 26 but do not extend the entire lengthof active stylus tip 26. In other embodiments, the electrodes in activestylus tip 26 each extend the length of active stylus tip 26. Theelectrodes in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A each comprise avertical segment of active stylus tip 26. FIG. 6B illustrates analternate view of the example embodiment of active stylus tip 26illustrated in FIG. 6A. In FIG. 6B, active stylus tip 26 is viewedhead-on, such that each vertical segment of the tip in FIG. 6Acorresponds to a strip-like region in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6C illustrates yetanother embodiment, in which the electrodes (including electrodes 170,172, and 174) comprise vertical segments of active stylus tip 26 thatextend radially outward from the center shaft 41 in active stylus tip26. FIG. 6D illustrates an alternate view of the example embodiment ofactive stylus tip 26 illustrated in FIG. 6C. In FIG. 6D, active stylustip 26 is viewed head-on, such that each vertical segment of the tip inFIG. 6C corresponds to a radial segment in FIG. 6D.

FIG. 7A illustrates yet another example embodiment of the electrodes inactive stylus tip 26. In this example, active stylus tip 26 contains oneor more electrodes, including electrodes 260, 262, and 264. Theembodiment shown in FIG. 7A shows a grid of individual electrodes inactive stylus tip 26. The grid is formed from dividing active stylus tip26 into both horizontal and vertical segments. As such, each electrode,including electrodes 260, 262, and 264, comprises a vertically andhorizontally bounded area within active stylus 26. FIG. 7B illustratesan alternate view of the example embodiment of active stylus tip 26illustrated in FIG. 7A. In FIG. 7B, active stylus tip 26 is viewedhead-on, such that each horizontal segment of the tip in FIG. 7Acorresponds to a circular or ring-like region in FIG. 7B, and eachvertical segment of the tip in FIG. 7A corresponds to a strip-likeregion in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7C illustrates yet another embodiment in whichthe electrodes (including electrodes 270, 272, and 274) are arranged ina grid formation. The grid in FIG. 7C is formed from dividing activestylus tip 26 into both horizontal and vertical segments, with eachvertical segment extending radially outward from the center shaft 41 inactive stylus tip 26. FIG. 7D illustrates an alternate view of theexample embodiment of active stylus tip 26 illustrated in FIG. 7C. InFIG. 7D, active stylus tip 26 is viewed head-on, such that eachelectrode in the grid formation of FIG. 7C corresponds to a portion of aradial segment in FIG. 7D. In particular embodiments, one or moreelectrodes within the active stylus tip 26 may be surrounded by otherelectrodes within the active stylus tip 26.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate yet another example embodiment of theelectrodes in active stylus tip 26. In this example, active stylus tipcontains one or more electrodes, including electrodes 360 and 362.Electrode 362 is surrounded by electrode 360. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, electrodes 362 and 360 comprise areasapproximating a cylinder and a concentric cylindrical ring within activestylus tip 26. If active stylus tip 26 is cut along imaginary plane 66,the cross section of active stylus tip 26 would appear as illustrated inFIG. 8B, approximating a circle and a concentric ring.

Although particular example embodiments of active stylus tip 26 havebeen described, the multiple electrodes of active stylus tip 26 may bearranged in any configuration or form any shape that is desirable forthe operation of active stylus 20. As an example, the electrodes in theactive stylus tip 26 may be arranged to create a unique identifyingsignature for the active stylus 20. In particular embodiments, theactive stylus tip 26 may have a nib region, and the electrodes in thisnib region may be arranged to achieve a desired result, such as thecapability to sense differences in pressure on the nib. As an example,the electrodes in the nib region may be arranged in a staggered patternto detect variations in pressure. Additionally, in particularembodiments, active stylus tip 26 may be an interchangeable tip.

The multiple electrodes of active stylus tip 26 may each be able toreceive signals from or send signals to other components of activestylus 20, a user, or device 52, without limitation. In particularembodiments, including those illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, theelectrodes of active stylus tip 26 may each receive and send signals viacenter shaft 41. As an example, the electrodes in active stylus tip 26may each receive signals from controller 50 via center shaft 41. Inparticular embodiments, a drive unit in controller 50 may supply signalsto each of the electrodes in active stylus tip 26 via center shaft 41.The multiple electrodes of active stylus tip 26 may also each sendsignals to controller 50 via center shaft 41. As an example, theelectrodes in active stylus tip 26 may each send signals to a sense unitin controller 50 via center shaft 41. In other embodiments, a processorin controller 50 may control the operation of the electrodes in activestylus tip 26, either via drive or sense units or directly. Inparticular embodiments, the multiple electrodes of active stylus tip 26may each be able to receive signals from or send signals to logic (e.g.multiplexer), mechanical switches, electrical or electronic circuits orcircuit elements (including, for example, operational amplifiers)

Each of the multiple electrodes in the active stylus tip 26 may be, byway of example and without limitation, a drive electrode, a senseelectrode, a guard electrode, or a ground electrode.

Herein, reference to a computer-readable non-transitory storage mediumencompasses a semiconductor-based or other integrated circuit (IC)(such, as for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or anapplication-specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk, an HDD, a hybrid harddrive (HHD), an optical disc, an optical disc drive (ODD), amagneto-optical disc, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy disk, a floppydisk drive (FDD), magnetic tape, a holographic storage medium, asolid-state drive (SSD), a RAM-drive, a SECURE DIGITAL card, a SECUREDIGITAL drive, or another suitable computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium or a combination of two or more of these, whereappropriate. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium may bevolatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile,where appropriate.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicatedotherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B”means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicatedotherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unlessexpressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,”unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations,alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that aperson having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover,reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or acomponent of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to,capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative toperform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system,component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated,turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or componentis so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, oroperative.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a stylus tip of a stylusoperable to communicate wirelessly with another device through a touchsensor of the other device, the stylus tip comprising one or moresurface areas; one or more substrates disposed along one or more of thesurface areas of the stylus tip; and a plurality of electrodes disposedon or in one or more of the substrates, wherein a first electrode and asecond electrode of the plurality of electrodes are configured totransmit signals to the other device through the touch sensor and toreceive signals transmitted by the other device through the touchsensor, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode aredisposed in a stack relative to one another along a central verticalaxis of the stylus tip, and wherein the stack comprises two horizontalsegments of the one or more substrates, and the two segments correspondto the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is disposed along acentral vertical axis of the stylus tip, and wherein the secondelectrode is disposed as a ring surrounding the first electrode.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrode and the secondelectrode is disposed on or in a vertical segment of the one or moresubstrates, and wherein each of the first electrode and the secondelectrode extends along at least a portion of the length of the verticalsegment.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more substratesare segmented horizontally and vertically, and wherein each segmentcorresponds to an electrode.
 5. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage mediaembodying logic that is operable when executed to dynamically configurethe first electrode and the second electrode.
 6. The device of claim 1,further comprising mechanical means operable to dynamically configurethe first electrode and the second electrode.
 7. The device of claim 1,further comprising electrical or electronic means operable todynamically configure the first electrode and the second electrode. 8.The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes isoperable to be dynamically configured as a drive electrode to transmitthe signals or a sense electrode to receive the signals.
 9. The deviceof claim 1, wherein each of the electrodes is operable to be dynamicallyconfigured as a ground electrode or a guard electrode.
 10. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the stylus is synchronized to the device by receivingthe signals transmitted by the other device.
 11. The device of claim 10,wherein the stylus is synchronized to the device through apre-determined bit sequence transmitted by the touch sensor of the otherdevice.
 12. A system comprising: a device comprising a touch sensor; anda stylus operable to communicate wirelessly with the device through thetouch sensor of the device, the stylus comprising a stylus tip, thestylus tip comprising: one or more surface areas; one or more substratesdisposed along one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip; and aplurality of electrodes disposed on or in one or more of the substrates,wherein a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality ofelectrodes are configured to transmit signals to the other devicethrough the touch sensor and to receive signals transmitted by the otherdevice through the touch sensor, and wherein the first electrode and thesecond electrode are disposed in a stack relative to one another along acentral vertical axis of the stylus tip, and wherein the stack comprisestwo horizontal segments of the one or more substrates, and the twosegments correspond to the first electrode and the second electrode,respectively.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first electrode isdisposed along a central vertical axis of the stylus tip, and whereinthe second electrode is disposed as a ring surrounding the firstelectrode.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the firstelectrode and the second electrode is disposed on or in a verticalsegment of the one or more substrates, and wherein each of the firstelectrode and the second electrode extends along at least a portion ofthe length of the vertical segment.
 15. The system of claim 12, whereinthe one or more substrates are segmented horizontally and vertically,and wherein each segment corresponds to an electrode.
 16. The system ofclaim 12, further comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executedto dynamically configure the first electrode and the second electrode.17. The system of claim 12, further comprising mechanical means operableto dynamically configure the first electrode and the second electrode.18. The system of claim 12, further comprising electrical or electronicmeans operable to dynamically configure the first electrode and thesecond electrode.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein each of theplurality of electrodes is operable to be dynamically configured as adrive electrode to transmit the signals or a sense electrode to receivethe signals.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the electrodesis operable to be dynamically configured as a ground electrode or aguard electrode.
 21. An active stylus, comprising: a stylus tipcomprising one or more surface areas; one or more substrates disposedalong one or more of the surface areas of the stylus tip; a firstelectrode and a second electrode disposed on or in one or more of thesubstrates, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode aredisposed in a stack relative to one another along a central verticalaxis of the stylus tip, and wherein the stack comprises two horizontalsegments of the one or more substrates, and the two segments correspondto the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively; and acontroller operable to configure the first electrode and the secondelectrode to communicate wirelessly with another device through a touchsensor of the other device, wherein the first electrode and the secondelectrode are configured to transmit signals to the other device throughthe touch sensor and to receive signals transmitted by the other devicethrough the touch sensor.
 22. The active stylus of claim 21, wherein thecontroller is configured to synchronize with the other device byreceiving the signals transmitted by the other device.
 23. The activestylus of claim 22, wherein the signals transmitted by the other deviceinclude a pre-determined bit sequence used for synchronization.
 24. Amethod executed between an active stylus and a device coupled to a touchsensor, the method comprising: configuring a first electrode and asecond electrode of a stylus tip of the active stylus to communicatewirelessly with the device through the touch sensor of the device,wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on orin one or more substrates disposed along one or more surface areas ofthe stylus tip, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode aredisposed in a stack relative to one another along a central verticalaxis of the stylus tip, and wherein the stack comprises two horizontalsegments of the one or more substrates, and the two segments correspondto the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively;transmitting, from the first electrode and the second electrode, signalsto the other device through the touch sensor; and receiving, at thefirst electrode and the second electrode, signals transmitted by theother device through the touch sensor.